Thiago Silva eyes PSG exit as criticism 'starts to get hard' to tolerate

With Neymar in Brazil playing poker during PSG's title celebrations, the ESPN FC guys question his priorities and commitment to his club.

Paris Saint-Germain captain Thiago Silva has hit out at some of the criticism he has received recently, telling Le Foot Paris that "it starts to get hard" to constantly be attacked and that he does not expect to remain with the club once he is out of contract.

Silva told the magazine that the criticism regarding his perceived weak leadership has intensified after PSG's second consecutive exit in the Champions League round of 16.

"It is impossible not to hear some of the criticism," Silva said. "However, no newspaper, nor journalist, is going to tell me who I am. I know who I am. Because of this, I continue as I always have done.

"I respect all opinions, but when you are attacked personally, it starts to get hard. I am especially sad when it impacts my family and my loved ones. However, when you wear the PSG shirt, you always have a responsibility."

Silva, 33, said that he does not expect to stay at the Parc des Princes beyond the final two years of his existing contract.

"I must continue to work hard to help my teammates," Silva said. "Competition always exists in football.

"All things said, I am 33. I have two years left on my contract and after that, I will hand over to somebody else."

Thiago Silva does not expect to remain with PSG when his contract expires in 2020.

Emery has been linked with a return to formative club Real Sociedad at the end of his contract this summer and addressed those reports via Twitter.

"Regarding different reports that have emerged over the past few days, I would like to make it clear that I remain focused on PSG and the objectives that we have left this season," Emery wrote. "Neither myself, nor anybody else on my behalf, has met with another club."

Two goals from Kylian Mbappe helped PSG beat fellow Ligue 1 side Caen in the Coupe de France semifinals on Wednesday, and the victory has set up a date with semi-professional and third-tier side Les Herbiers at the Stade de France next month in the final.

Javier Pastore, who was introduced as a late substitute, said after the game that he has never heard of the third-tier minnows.

"Honestly, no -- I do not know who they are," Pastore told Le Parisien. "However, we will watch videos of them. The most important thing is us. We will have to prepare well for this encounter."

Jonathan Johnson covers PSG and the French national team for ESPN FC. Twitter: @Jon_LeGossip.